Living Well on the Spectrum How to Use Your Strengths to Meet the Challenges of Asperger Syndrome/High-Functioning Autism

by Gaus, Valerie L.; Shore, Stephen

• ISBN13: 9781606236345
• ISBN10: 1606236342
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2011-03-15
• Publisher: The Guilford Press

Summary

Being "different" is old news for adults with Asperger syndrome and high-functioning autism (AS/HFA), whether they were diagnosed as children or only recently. Meeting a huge demand and providing indispensable practical guidance, prominent therapist Valerie Gaus shows how difference can be a strength. By mastering specific coping and problem-solving skills that "neurotypical" folks take for granted, people with AS/HFA can achieve greater success in everything from dealing with daily routines and social interactions to building a career and negotiating intimate relationships. The straight-talking, methodical writing style is expressly tailored to this audience's preferences and needs. The book is packed with questionnaires and worksheets that help readers pinpoint their areas of greatest concern and develop personalized action plans to build the life they want.This book will be important reading for adults with AS/HFA and their family members; also of interest to mental health professionals and students.

Author Biography

Valerie L. Gaus, PhD, is a clinical psychologist in private practice in Long Island, New York, where she lives with her husband and two children. With more than 15 years of experience providing mental health services to people with autism spectrum disorders, Dr. Gaus serves on the advisory board of the Asperger Syndrome and High Functioning Autism Association and has lectured internationally on Asperger syndrome and related topics. She is the author of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Adult Asperger Syndrome, a bestselling book for therapists.

Table of Contents

Foreword, Stephen Shore Introduction. How to Get the Most Out of This Book I. Life on the Spectrum 1. A Typical Day in Your Life: Problems and Solutions 2. A Unique Brain: How Thinking Differences Can Affect Your Daily Life 3. How Social Differences Can Be Vulnerabilities and Strengths 4. The Role of Your Emotional Differences 5. How Sensory and Movement Differences Can Affect Your Interactions with Your Environment II. Positive Solutions for a Quality Life 6. Positive Solutions: Your Bag of Tricks 7. At Home 8. At Work 9. At School 10. In the Community 11. Building Friendships 12. Dating, Sex, and Marriage 13. Health 14. Putting Yourself in Charge of Your Life and Finding Help When You Need It Appendix: Problem-Solving Worksheet Resources